Experiential learning

Experiential learning is when students learn by doing. In 21st century learning, I believe this should be what educators focus on because this will give students the skills necessary to succeed as an adult. They are using hands-on experiences and a reflection of that experience to be able to connect what they learn in the classroom to the real world. 

 When I was growing up, a remember a lot of time spent learning by copying notes down from the board, memorizing terms and facts, and a lot of drilling in subjects such as math. While I do feel that some aspects of that type of education is still important, I see a huge shift in how teachers teach the curriculum. With the advance of technology, students are able to access information almost immediately with their devices, so the type of education I received does not make sense nowadays. 

 BC came out with new curriculum in the past few years and I can see that there has been a huge shift in what facts students need to know to building core competencies. Instead of valuing certain facts and numbers, sudents are encouraged more to develop how to find evidence, explain their perspectives and make ethical judgements. 



 By engaging in experiential learning, they gain a better ability to see the world and appreciate where they live. Students also gain insight into themselves – their skills, passions, and values. This type of education also develops their confidence and their ability to be leaders. Good problem solving skills, critical thinking and being able to apply their knowledge to real life situations are what will make students sought after in the work face when they become adults.

Reference

Social Studies K-10 – Curricular Competencies. (2019). In BC Ministry of Education. Government of British Columbia. Retrieved January 15, 2023, from https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/curriculum/continuous-views/en_social_studies_k-10_curricular_competencies.pdf

 

 



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